Srinagar: In the backdrop of a major anti-infiltration system being operationalised along the India-Pakistan border earlier this month, more high-tech equipment for border surveillance, perimeter security and counter-militancy operations have been developed for deployment in Kashmir and the borders with Pakistan and China.
The equipment are also aimed to not only reduce infiltration and intrusions, but also provide 3D mapping of militancy prone areas in Kashmir with a data backup for planning future operations. Some of these systems could also prevent BAT actions and Pathankot and Uri type attacks, The Economic Times reported on Friday.
These developments were shared by the systems’ developers, Cron Systems, an Indian startup, in partnership with a California based technology firm, Quanergy Systems. Cron Systems has also setup three “technology centres” in Kashmir and Ladakh for repairing, maintaining and customising army electro-optical equipment. This is in view of lack of adequate technical support in remote areas. It plans to open a total of eight centres along the Line of Control (LoC).
The report said that two surveillance systems and the technology centres were launched on Wednesday night by Cron Systems in Leh in the presence of senior army officers of the 14 Corps, which has a mandate of guarding the Line of Actual (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh. According to the firm, the army is testing one of these equipment, called the Kavach Z, along the LoC. It is also likely to be tested along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh over the next few months. The other equipment called the GeoSight has just been launched, but it is yet to be deployed.
The report quoting sources said that what is badly needed in the region is surveillance equipment that can work at altitudes where temperatures dip to -40 degrees. While the situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh is peaceful and the number of intrusions by the Chinese is much less this year as compared to last year, surveillance is still an important requirement. The army has asked some industries to come to Nyoma and ahead of Partapur (Siachen brigade location) during November and December for the evaluation of their logistics and surveillance equipment. The army wants to check whether they can function in such weather.
The system comes in the backdrop of the army working on digital mapping of villages in Kashmir to facilitate counter-militancy operations and prevent casualties.